John Louis Lynch, 84, of Boynton Beach, Florida, passed away on August 31, 2026. Born on May 17, 1942, in Syracuse, New York, John graduated from Syracuse University, served as a Captain in the United States Air Force, and spent more than three decades in occupational health and industrial hygiene, including as Safety Director for the City of Syracuse.

Brilliant, funny, irreverent, and endlessly curious, John read constantly and wanted to write an autobiography to capture the stories of an unbridled life. He spoke Polish fluently and knew some French, German, and Japanese. He loved horse racing, fishing, basketball, the beach, Disney World, ice cream, his Frosty the Snowman collection, and every cherished family dog. Yet for all his boldness, he was remarkably gentle and kind.

John and Sharon were married for 48 years. He bought her flowers and never forgot a holiday or anniversary. He wrote in ALL CAPS, including notes he tucked into his daughter’s school lunches. His Catholic faith mattered deeply to him, and he served as a church sacristan and lector and trained altar servers.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Sharon Lynch; his daughters, Michelle Lynch and Kristen Anselmi; his son, Peter Pirolla; six grandchildren; and his siblings, Beth Vaillancourt, Ronald Lynch, and Russell Lynch.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, October 9, 2026 at 10:30 AM at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, 840 George Bush Blvd., Delray Beach, FL 33483 with burial to follow at 12:30 PM at South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth, FL in Lane #1. This Mass and burial will be celebrated for both John and Sharon Lynch.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests supporting the St. Vincent Ferrer Knights of Columbus Council to continue the legacy of John and Sharon’s service. You can donate online (click here to donate online) or by check payable to SVF Knights of Columbus and mail to SVF Knights of Columbus, 840 George Bush Blvd., Delray Beach, FL 33483, in their memory.

“A man knows when he has found his vocation when he stops thinking about how to live and begins to live.”Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude